A Time Was Had ..

Galveston Texas June 19, 1865 .. the heat sits on you, heavy in the fields. The word arrived - FREEDOM! A joyful noise! We free!!

The defeated confederacy in its tattered form, reintegrated back into the union. A nation torn apart by war, worked to heal the wounds and divisions among families and states. A promise of reconstruction and the fulfillment of it, as the following 161 years .. whites clung to their hatred, “we gave you your rights and freedoms..” - The Slave Amendments 13th, 14th and, 15th.

“Black men had the right to vote before us!” - 1866 Civil Rights Act. Ain’t we free?? Post-Civil War America, did not suddenly become a “race neutral” society. It took less than a year to morph into Jim Crow. That Texas heat, sit on ya somethin awful in them fields. With that freedom we can vote. With that freedom, we can move away from this life. Negro/Freed Peoples, we got our own now. Thriving. Family unification was paramount - they had sold her children and husband, all we had was hope.

Is we free?? Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger’s General Order No. 3 .. says “yes”. America however, even in its rebuild fought to thread subjugation of the Negro/Freed peoples - Black Codes. Texas in June .. the devil himself looks for shade and a cool drink. But, we don’t care. “Throw down your bucket where you stand..” Freedom Day! We got a whole nine years - Jackson withdrew the troops, reconstruction collapsed into a form of jealous terrorizing of Negro towns and communities ..

Is we free?? Plessy v Ferguson 1896 .. 31 years after that day, in that hot Texas sun. Separate but equal.. 67 years after, one shot and she tried to put his brains back in his head. A single shot for sending in the National Guard. That day in Dallas, “.. the gunman on the grassy nole” They didn’t want yall stirring up trouble with their niggers - they know their place. The Brown v Board of Education and the demand for Civil Rights.. she stood to his right, still in the outfit bloody from the shooting, LBJ became president.. 1964 Civil Rights Act. 1965 Voting Rights Act.

We FREE!! She told the story of her grandmother the day the soldiers arrived. For more than 115 years Juneteenth marks a milestone for our people. Specifically in Texas. And more broadly Black America. However, we honor the specificity to the regional traditions and customs. Same as we honor each branch of our culture. Mardi Gras. Watch Night. We join in the celebration knowing that the freedom was uneven. You see it reflected in how we collectively celebrate when we see our achievements.. Artemis II .. Hidden Figures to astronauts.

In the elation and celebration of us, we are reminded that our existence and history is a dichotomy. The world has only been able to experience us through the prism of “Struggle”. They have much like the enslavers, only consumed us and our experiences. They have stood on the shoulders of our fights to forge a “CIVIL” society. The advent of social media and the rise of “content creators”, gave us confirmation. They love the rhythm but don’t want the blues …

Where yo people ‘nem from? A cool red drink, “Before I let you .. gooooooooo!” (Maze turned up to 11). The aunties and uncles laughing as the kids play. It’s hot outside. Make sure Jimmy got his plate. The dancing. The parades. The music. The history. The people. Participation in my peoples cultural celebrations - RESPECT is a non-negotiable.

The laughter of our elders and babies .. those thing are precious and are the living proof. Black Joy in America - engenders jealousy, rage and hate. We however are and have been the opposite of that. They were in them fields in that Texas sun … every time we celebrate, it is a deeply soulful and joyous occasion. The pressure of America and is hate for my people, has made Black Diamonds that sparkle in that sun…

We ain’t goin back into nobody’s field .. Happy Juneteenth..